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Katherine Luther Residential Health Care and Rehabilitation Center has received 48 citations for violations of public health code between 2017 and 2021, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on June 4, 2021. The facility has also received $52,000 in fines since 2013. The Clinton nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of seven surveys by state inspectors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:
1. The nursing home did not implement adequate prevention measures. Section 483.25 of the Federal Code requires nursing homes to ensure resident environments are as free as possible of accident hazards and that residents receive adequate supervision to prevent accidents. An October 2019 citation found that Katherine Luther Residential Health Care and Rehabilitation Center failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that a resident sustained an accident in which he placed his hands on a fireplace’s metal grate and suffered second-degree burns. The citation goes on to state that an investigation “did not document staff interviews to determine why the electrical fireplace was in use with a functional heating element and how it had been turned on.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the development of a policy “banning the use of portable space heaters for the entire facility, including non-resident areas” and the education of staff.
2. The nursing home did not provide adequate pressure ulcer care. Under Section 483.25 of the Federal Code, nursing homes are required to provide residents with adequate care to prevent the avoidable development of pressure sores and to promote the healing of existing pressure sores. A December 2019 citation found that Katherine Luther Residential Health Care and Rehabilitation Center failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that when a resident at the facility developed a pressure sore, it was “not treated timely and there was no evidence pressure relief interventions were implemented to promote healing.” The citation goes on to state that the pressure sore “worsened,” requiring in the resident’s need for surgical intervention. The citation states that these deficiencies resulted in “actual harm” to the resident. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the development of a wound team to conduct weekly wound rates.
3. The nursing home did not adequately prevent medication errors. Section 483.45 of the Federal Code states that nursing home residents have a right to be “free of any significant medication errors.” A February 2019 citation found that Katherine Luther Residential Health Care and Rehabilitation Center failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that one resident’s medication “was inadvertently discontinued.” As a result, the resident did not receive their medication for 19 days and experienced symptoms of their medical condition. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility the education of relevant staff.
The attorneys at the Law Offices of Thomas L. Gallivan, PLLC work diligently to protect the rights of nursing home residents. Please contact us to discuss in the event you have a potential case involving neglect or abuse.
